NordVPN's Times Square stunt lets New Yorkers "talk to a hacker"

NordVPN, the best VPN on the market based on our testing, took over Times Square last week with a bold reminder of how vulnerable personal data can be online.

The VPN service launched an interactive "Talk to a Hacker" billboard that allowed passersby to speak directly with real ethical hackers, who then revealed just how much information they could uncover in a matter of minutes.

The campaign ran from 1 PM to 8 PM on October 16. During each session, "white hat" (ethical) hackers demonstrated how easily publicly available data, social media activity, and weak passwords can expose sensitive personal details.

Participants saw information such as addresses, phone numbers, and even favorite bands appear on the screen almost instantly.

Highly personal information revealed

Hackers told stunt participants what kind of malware had infected their devices and highlighted the amount of personal information that could be found on them.

Other personal details revealed by ethical hackers included passwords, Social Security numbers, their interests, and even their make and model of car.

"The participants’ reactions were powerful – we saw genuine shock on people’s faces as they realized just how exposed they really were," said Toma Sabaliauskiene, CMO at NordVPN.

"Many were visibly stunned to learn that their current software had been giving them a false sense of security all along. That moment of surprise and realization is exactly what this campaign needed to deliver."

The aims of "Talk To A Hacker"

The stunt supports NordVPN's ongoing mission to educate internet users about online privacy and data protection.

According to a recent NordVPN survey, 73% of Americans mistakenly believe that antivirus software alone can prevent identity theft or ensure online privacy, a misconception the company says it wants to challenge head-on.

NordVPN said the campaign was designed to make online privacy risks more tangible for everyday users. The company says it wants to challenge misconceptions about how antivirus software and VPNs differ in protecting personal data.

The Times Square installation marks NordVPN's biggest public awareness campaign to date, following a string of feature updates this year, including improvements to its Threat Protection suite and continued support for Meshnet.

The company says this latest effort blends real-time interaction with education, aiming to make cybersecurity more tangible for everyday users.

By letting people see how easily their digital lives can be mapped in real time, NordVPN hopes to underline the need for stronger privacy habits, from using VPN encryption to adopting password managers and multi-factor authentication.